We tried 'Bioweapon Defense Mode' on the Tesla Model X

One of the cooler features for the Tesla Model X SUV that was
announced when the vehicle launched last year is "Bioweapon
Defense Mode."

Effectively, this turns cabin air filtration up to 11, according
to Tesla. CEO Elon Musk touted the feature prominently at the
Model X launch presentation, perhaps because in polluted China —
a big potential growth market for Tesla — major-league
air-cleansing will be a huge selling point.

Tesla claims that BWDM will scrub the Model X's biosphere to
hospital grade.

Naturally, in a short test of the Model X this week in fragrant
Manhattan, we wanted to see what would happen when we engaged the
feature.

There's nothing to it. You push a virtual button on Tesla's large
center touch screen.

Touch the button on the
far right.Justin Gmoser/Business
Insider

But ... would alarms sound? Would lights start flashing, like
they do when the Starship Enterprise goes on red alert? Would the
voice of the navigation system say "Bioweapon Defense Mode
engaged!"

Actually, none of that stuff happened.

In fact, absolutely nothing occurred. Total silence.

The four occupants of the Model X, two of them Tesla employees,
took deep, cleansing, yoga-style breaths.

I felt a sense of calm wash over me. In the middle of near-total
gridlock.

I don't know if it had anything to do with Bioweapons Defense
Mode, however. Presumably, if the Model X were being attacked
with bioweapons, there would not be a sense of calm. But
it just was a rainy morning in New York City. The only stress was
being provided by delivery trucks and cabs.

Still, Business Insider's Benjamin Zhang, in the back seat, said
that he couldn't smell Manhattan anymore.

Some experts have expressed skepticism that BWDM can protect
occupants from ALL contaminants, but on paper it should do an
effective job of cutting down on what people encounter every
day when driving around big cities.